PRINCE RUPERT – New Democrat MLA Jennifer Rice says people in the north coast struggling with substance use challenges will soon have access to six publicly funded beds at Trinity Men’s Recovery House in Prince Rupert.

“The difference that Trinity House can make in people’s lives can’t be overstated,” said Rice, MLA for North Coast. “It’s wonderful that this funding from the province will make the services they provide more accessible to more people, regardless of their ability to pay.”

333 Recovery Homes is receiving $900,000 to convert six beds from private-pay to publicly funded beds, making treatment more accessible.

“In the northwest, we have too few resources for long-term recovery for men in active addiction and homelessness—dads, fathers, husbands, needing a helping hand up,” said Willy Beaudry, executive director, 333 Recovery Homes Society. “This grant is the best news for our society and region and will assist greatly in getting our guys back into the community, with families, into employment and in a lot of cases, their own places.”

These beds are being funded as part of $13 million that was announced last fall, which is supporting more than 100 beds province-wide.

The New Democrat BC Government feels this investment is an important step to address the overdose crisis. Under the previous government, investments in bed-based care did not meet demand, resulting in long waitlists and lack of service in rural and remote communities. The New Democrat government is enhancing B.C.’s response to the overdose crisis, an integral part of A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for building the comprehensive system of mental health and addictions care British Columbians deserve.

This announcement is part of B.C.’s $10 billion pandemic response, which includes the Economic Recovery Plan, StrongerBC — a plan that protects people’s health and livelihoods while supporting businesses and communities.